Here is the text of the offering:

July 2007

Ahoy Mateys!

We hope everyone is enjoying summer. We certainly are but after a dry winter and beautiful spring, keeping up with all the vineyard activities has been quite a challenge. At this point, however, we seem to have everything under control (at least we'd like to think we do!) and are looking forward to what should be an early harvest.

The last six months have brought other challenges as well. Since our previous letter in January, three of our key old-vine zinfandel sources, specifically Tom Feeney Ranch, Carlo’s Ranch, and Pietro’s Ranch, were all sold with plans to replace the old vines with pinot noir. Many of you know of my devotion to these old-vine vineyards but for those who don’t, this news was devastating, like a knife through the heart. I strongly believe these vineyards to be some of the grandes dames of Sonoma County. They are historical treasures, our viticultural heritage. They need to be preserved. They are worthy of veneration. They are irreplaceable. I’ll spare you all the details and cut to the chase. Pietro’s Ranch is gone. Vintage 2006, its 101st, was its last. Tom Feeney Ranch (which will be designated in 2006 as Montafi Ranch) has been granted a 2-year stay of execution. No promises have been made beyond vintage 2008. Carlo’s Ranch? By a stroke of incredible good fortune, I found someone (or more accurately, someone found me) to quickly buy it, someone who shares my passion for old-vine zinfandel. Already considerable work has been done at Carlo’s to improve the health of the vineyard and, just as importantly, the quality of fruit. But through this all, one thing has become quite clear to me: Old-vine zinfandel is an endangered species. Enjoy it while you can.

On to happier topics... We follow up our spring releases with a fantastic set of wines for this fall, all from the 2005 vintage. Easily our finest set of syrahs to date, from our duo of Rhône-like Bennett Valley syrahs to our beautifully balanced but unabashedly Californian Pelkan Ranch Syrah, there should be something for everyone. Two Acres? As compelling as ever. And the zins? While ripe and authoritative, they show all the elegance and cool-climate nature of the vintage. Honestly, it's tough to pick a favorite. But as evidenced by the bottle limits, there is a downside to this set of wines - low production. Many of them fall in the 100-200 case range. Bottle limits should improve with the release of our 2006s next year.

And now, without further ado...

These are the correct prices for the above wines.

Thanks!  I fixed them.  Just another instance of this new board software screwing up.

Got ours - slightly less than Dave's it looks like - 18 bottles total - Buying all, there goes $700.

MLV and I are big Carlisle fans - Hard to beat the quality and the price. It is a real shame he is losing the Tom Feeney Ranch source - I love his zins from that vineyard.

I got the same allocation as you did. I'm also a big fan, will purchase all 18, and probably ask for a few more!

i must have skimped on a few mailers somewhere along the way i was only offered 12 (no cardiac hill). although "only 12" (even with the onsie of Carlisle vineyard, I used to get 3 ) is probably a good thing...

I like these wines as well but (re Siduri thread), too many wines produced to keep track. Man, as an engineering major with 4 calculus' & 4 physics' under my belt, I had an easier time with those subjects than keeping track of all the vins from Carlisle & some others... I will pass.

Sorry, LCC. I think that passing on this offer is a mistake!

I know what you mean, Budman. I really like the wines, but here is another angle. At one point with the producers of wine that put out all these vin designation(s), my cellar was full of, dominated by Turleys, Carlisles, Kistlers, Martinellis, Neals, etc... And, after I calculated the money spent on 4-6 producers due to all the vin releases, I was shocked & it gave me a dose of reality.

So, I pretty much dropped producers such as those aside from Neal & a few bottles of Turleys. Nothing wrong with the wines @ all though, I agree Budman.

How does the 18 bottle allocation break down?  At least 2 of everything?

I got offered 2 of everything except the Sonoma County Syrah and the Carlisle Vineyard Zin, where I was offered 3 each.

I was allocated 20, including 3 each of the zins, Two Acres, and Bennett Valley syrah and 2 of the rest, proving once and for all that mine is bigger than Bud's.....

True... but did you ask for additional bottles???

Guilty...my first offer from Carlisle (always bought in a shop) and got 1 each of six wines.  I guess I'll just have to throw them in a bin and take my chances.  I've always loved these wines, and the prices rock!